Student Health Services

Tips on Student Illness During Flu Season
It's common sense that students learn better when they are healthy and well rested. During flu season in particular, keeping apprised of accurate information can help families develop good habits for keeping germs at bay. Here are two documents we hope you find useful:

Scoliosis screenings grades 9 and 11
By law, every New Jersey board of education must provide biennial scoliosis screening for students ages 10-18. The purpose of the screening is to detect signs of spinal curvature at its earliest stages so the need for treatment can be determined. Please see the State Mandated Health Screenings below for more details.

Student Attendance

If your child is going to be absent, late or on vacation, please remember to call the attendance office for Middle School - extension 8931 and for High School - extension 8912.

Immunization Requirements for New Jersey

Any child born on or after January 1, 1997 and transferring into a New Jersey school from another state or country after September 1, 2008, must provide documentation of having received 1 dose of Tdap and Meningoccal Conjugate. Any child transferring into a New Jersey school from another state or country may enter school provided they have received at least 1 dose of each required vaccine. They have 1 year to complete each vaccine series.

Unless already on file in the health office, documentation of these required immunizations must be submitted to the school nurse PRIOR to the child entering school/grade. Noncompliance will temporarily prevent school attendance until the vaccines are given and documentation submitted. Please keep the school nurse updated on any additional vaccines your child receives.

Mantoux (PPD) may be required if entering the United States from certain countries. Please check with your physician

A physical by a United States doctor is required to enter New Jersey Schools and will be considered an entrance exam. If a student would like to participate in a school sport then the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form must be completed by the parent/guardian and a New Jersey physician.

Illnesses

If you send your child to school sick or your child becomes sick at school, you will be called to come and pick them up. Please remember to update your contact list through the Guidance Dept. @ Ext 8919

Any student with a fever (a temperature of 100 degrees or above) will be sent home and he/she must remain home a full 24 hours fever free (without acetaminophen/ibuprofen) before returning to school. It is at the discretion of the school nurse to send a child home if they are not well, regardless of the child’s temperature. If your child is seen by a medical provider or emergency room, please submit paperwork by that provider.

If a child vomits or has diarrhea during the night or in the morning, please do not send him/her to school. If a child vomits in school, we will call you to pick him/her up. The child must remain home for a full 24 hours without further vomiting after being sent home by the school nurse.

If a child has been diagnosed with Strep Throat, notify the school nurse. He/she must be on medication 24 hours before returning to school and must have a note from the primary care provider.

If a child has been diagnosed with Conjunctivitis (pink eye) he/she must be on medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

Chicken pox requires the child to be home until all pox are scabbed and dry and no new pox appear. Clearance from the school nurse is necessary before the child can re-enter the classroom and the student must have a note from the medical provider stating that he/she is cleared to return to school.

Rashes: If a child has an unknown rash, please send in medical documentation that is it not contagious.

Students as well as faculty should routinely use precaution to prevent exposure of blood and body fluids.

Lice/Pediculosis

It is very important that the school nurse be notified if head lice or nits are found in your child’s hair. The child must be brought in by the parent or guardian to the health office for evaluation after treatment at home. Please visit the CDC website for more information about Lice/Pediculosis.

If a child needs to be excused from Physical Education for one day and up to a week, the student (for one day can request to sit out of PE) and parent/guardian can request for up to a week to sit out of PE with a note. If a Physical Education excuse is needed for more than one week, a note from the medical provider is required.

Concussions

If a child suffers a concussion that is either school-related or out of school, a note from a doctor is required and a protocol for academics and PE/Sports will be followed. Accommodations will be made according to the physician’s orders or the school’s standing concussion guidelines if no guidelines are given by your health care provider after diagnosis of a concussion has been made. After a concussion, an athlete should only return to sports practices with the approval and under the supervision of their health care provider and after the Athletic Trainer completes the Return-to-play-protocol.

Injuries/Orthopedic Devices

Parents need to notify the school nurse and provide a physician’s note if a child is on crutches, has a cast, in a wheelchair or is in a brace of any kind - the note should indicate that the student is not to participate in PE/Sports and has been trained in the use of crutches and the length of time before he/she can return to regular activity. PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT ACCEPT NOTES FROM PHYSICAL THERAPISTS or CHIROPRACTORS.

Medications

No medication, including over the counter medications will be administered to students unless there is a Physician and Parent/Guardian medication authorization form completed. The medication must also be in the original prescription bottle or original container. Please refer to the medication policies if you have any questions. For students who require medication during school hours, attached you will find the medication administration form that needs to be filled out and signed by you and your doctor. This also applies to any student requiring an inhaler for Asthma and Epi-Pen for allergies. These forms along with the prescribed or OTC (over-the-counter) medications need to be brought in to the health office at the beginning of each year. Any student participating in sports will not be cleared until the Asthma or Epi-pen forms, or diabetic orders are handed in.

Allergy Action Plan - use this form for students who may have allergies that require treatment at school.

State Mandated Health Screenings

Vision, Hearing, Scoliosis screenings, Height/Weight & Blood Pressure measurements will be conducted in school throughout the year. If you do not want your child screened for Scoliosis, please send in a note to the Health Office indicating that you do not want your child screened.

Scoliosis screenings grades 9 and 11
By law, every New Jersey board of education must provide biennial scoliosis screening for students ages 10-18. The purpose of the screening is to detect signs of spinal curvature at its earliest stages so the need for treatment can be determined. By law, every New Jersey board of education must provide biennial scoliosis screening for students ages 10-18. The purpose of the screening is to detect signs of spinal curvature at its earliest stages so the need for treatment can be determined. Most cases of spinal curvature are mild. Early detection can prevent the development of severe deformity which can later affect the health and appearance of the child.
The procedure is simple. The school nurse will look at the student's back while he/she stands and then bends forward. It is necessary for the entire back to be visible during the screening process. Boys must remove their shirts. Girls must remove their tops and must wear a bathing suit, two-piece bathing suit top or a bra. Students in grade 7 will be screened separately and individually.
You have the option of being present at the screening, but you must request in writing that you wish to be present. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at the number or e-mail address above.

Sports Physical Procedures (Fall/Winter/Spring Sports)

For any student who will be participating in a sport the following documentation will be needed when we collect physicals for each season. A Physical Exam is valid/acceptable for 365 days from the date of the exam. You MUST submit a new Physical every year (365 days).
*If your child has a valid physical on file, then you will NOT need to hand in 1-4 listed below, you will ONLY NEED the Health History Update Questionnaire with the physical exam date listed on it and signed by (Parent/Guardian). You can get this either from the website, Athletic Trainer or Coach.
**For any sport you must fill out the online packet on the Athletic website and pay online.
***For any student participating in a sport who has either Asthma/Allergies/Diabetes he/she must have either their Asthma Action Plan (if they have Asthma), their Allergy Action Plan (if they have allergies), handed into the nurse prior to participating in the sport. You will find the forms listed above. For any student with diabetes, the orders must be submitted for Diabetic Management from their healthcare provider. Students WILL NOT be cleared unless these forms are handed in.

For those students who DO NOT have a valid physical on file then the following is needed:

Pre-Participation Physical Exam: History Form signed by Parent/Guardian.

Pre-Participation Physical Exam: Special Needs History Form signed by (Parent/Guardian). If applicable.

Pre-Participation Physical Exam: Physical Examination Form filled out and signed by a New Jersey Doctor/APN/PA.

Pre-Participation Physical Exam: Clearance Form signed by a New Jersey Doctor/APN/PA.

******PLEASE HAND IN ALL FORMS AT THE COLLECTION DATES/TIME/PLACE THAT YOU WILL FIND ON THE ATHLETIC WEBSITE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SEASONS.
PROCESSING THE FORMS COULD TAKE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS; PLEASE SUBMIT THE FORMSON TIME.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of bacterium that is resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics. Most of the time, MRSA causes skin infections, but it can also lead to pneumonia and bloodstream infections. In the past, MRSA occurred in hospitals and nursing homes, but it is becoming more common in community settings such as schools and daycare centers.

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis may be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Some health effects caused by HPV can be prevented by the HPV vaccines.